If you are looking for a comedy show that takes real life experiences and turns them into a laugh out loud entertainment, look no further than #DateMe: An OkCupid Experiment at The Second City. The Second City, which is known for being today’s leading brand in improv-based sketch comedy, presents another amazing sketch comedy with #DateMe. The show follows the idea Robyn Lynne Norris had about seeing who would respond to 38 fake profiles she created on OkCupid.com. She considered these profiles to be truly “undateable,” and the several months that followed seemed to prove otherwise. #DateMe uses real conversations and profiles that reached out to Norris’s different personas. This leads to what truly is a laugh out loud comedy experience for anyone, especially those who personally, or knows someone who has tried online dating, should see.

Robyn Lynne Norris and the ensemble of Second City’s #DateMe are talented and hilarious individuals who brought to life hundreds of different profiles, each with its own unique and surprising stories. Throughout the show, facts are presented about how online dating and OkCupid are presented and challenged by the characters. It adds a comic twist to the parts of dating we all have experienced. Whether it is the analysis of the 5 P’s of an online profile, the categories of people you are most likely to find online, or what truly makes your profile stand out, no stone is left unturned or unmocked in this 90 minute show. There was even some audience participation that led to the “coupling” of two audience members and an in-depth improvisational scene which showed what would happen if the two audiences members were to meet based on their online profiles. But my personal favorite parts were the songs. The first was by the female members of the ensemble which focused on the importance of a good profile username when meeting people and what we all think when we see a very bad one. The second was sung by the male members of the cast and made fun of the pick-up lines that are used as an icebreaker when starting a conversation online. Both were smart and funny while focusing on what online daters are faced with on a daily basis. While the real reason Norris started this experiment was based on loss and loneliness, it is a show that brings the audience together through laughter and shared experiences, which is what makes this show truly special.

(left to right) Randall Harr, Joel Boyd, Peter Collins

This is a show not to be missed by anyone, whether in love or looking for it. For more information about #DateMe: An OkCupid Experiment and The Second City, please visit their websites at www.upcomedyclub.com and www.secondcity.com.